Greensburg, Pa.-based Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co. (TrAILCo), a subsidiary of Allegheny Energy Inc., has announced that the hearing examiner in Virginia has recommended that the State Corporation Commission authorize construction of the 500 kV Virginia segments of the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL).

In his report, Hearing Examiner Alexander F. Skirpan Jr. finds the line is necessary to resolve overloads projected to occur on the transmission system as soon as 2011. He recommends that the Virginia Commission approve TrAIL if state regulators in Pennsylvania and West Virginia also approve the line. He also recommends specific routing for the line that would be located primarily adjacent to or within existing transmission right-of-way in Virginia. TrAILCo will carefully evaluate the recommendations outlined by Skirpan and will provide its comments to the commission.

"We are encouraged that the hearing examiner recognizes the need for TrAIL," says Paul J. Evanson, chairman, president and CEO of Allegheny Energy. "This project is critical to ensuring the ongoing reliability of the grid to meet the region's growing demand for electricity."

TrAIL is targeted for completion in 2011 and will span Allegheny Power's transmission zone from southwestern Pennsylvania through West Virginia to northern Virginia. Construction of the proposed line also is subject to approval of state regulatory commissions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

SOURCE: Allegheny Energy Inc.

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